Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the purchase of Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package software license and hardware in the initial estimated amount of $117,000;
2) Find that, in accordance with Section 3.12.160. of the El Dorado County Ordinance Code, due to the unique nature of the property or services required, competitive bidding is precluded; and
3) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute a perpetual purchase agreement contingent upon County Counsel and Risk approval.
FUNDING: CalMMET Special Revenue Funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
This item is being brought before the board for the purpose of purchasing the Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package software license and hardware. The Cellebrite Premium Unlimited Package will allow for EDSO to extract data from cell phones. This software and hardware package unlocks and extracts data from Apple iOS, Samsung Android, and other Android devices.
The Sheriff's Office Investigations Unit presently deploys devices and applications unique and sourced solely from Cellebrite Inc. Research into companies that provide digital forensic solutions have included more than five other vendors. However, Cellebrite was determined to be the sole developer, manufacturer, and support and maintenance provider of the Premium Unlimited Package solution for UFED mobile and smart phones and other devices.
Cellebrite’s solution is the only such known that is compatible with both Droid and iOS (Apple) devices that include forensics extraction, decoding and analysis tools that extracts logical, file system, and physical data. Other mobile devices include smartphones, cell phones, tablets, GPS units, SIM cards, memory cards, drones, and USB devices, including live and deleted data, contacts, phone numbers, call logs, text messages, SMS messages, application data (social network and other) location data, pictures, videos, and voice messages. The Sheriff's Office currently utilizes Cellebrite software and hardware for data extraction, this new product package will be uniform, compatible, and files and data will be sharable with our existing Cellebrite assets.
The solution includes the system’s assembled computer and software, off-site training, system warranty, and remote support and maintenance.
The consequences of not purchasing this system will hinder the Sheriff’s Investigations Unit’s ability to collect, examine, and present evidence, especially to the District Attorney's Office. Digital forensics of mobile and smart phones, and similar devices, has become a crucial approach for investigation into crimes and unlawful activities.
ALTERNATIVES
Not purchasing this system would hinder the efforts of Sheriff’s Office staff in performing critical investigative work.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Risk, Procurement and Contracts.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The costs for this purchase will be offset with CalMMET Special revenue funding. Funding in the Sheriff’s Office FY 21/22 budget will cover the costs of the purchase;therefore, there is no increase to net county cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Providing enhanced services to the community increases public safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz